Two held for smuggling phones into Jammu jail

Jail superintendent Gurdip Singh has been removed.

The counter intelligence wing of Jammu and Kashmir's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two inmates of a high security prison for smuggling in mobile phones and SIM cards.

The CID took into its custody Hizbul Mujahideen militant Raja Muzaffar of Baramulla and Sanjiv Kumar Samyal, who is facing murder charges, from Jammu's Kot Bhalwal jail on Tuesday night.

"Such arrests can be made from jail if there are fresh cases against the inmates," said a CID official on condition of anonymity.

Kot Bhalwal -- where 38 foreignterrorists and 367 others, mostly suspectedJ&K separatists, are lodged -- hit the headlines last week when mobile phones and SIM cards were recovered from the inmates.

That led to the revelation that the jail was being used as a communication and coordination centre forterrorists as well as for the drug and 'hawala' trade.

The government handed over the inquiry to the CID's counter intelligence wing.

Tuesday night's arrests are being seen as a major breakthrough. A case of unlawful activities has been registered against Muzaffar and Samyal. Another jail inmate Gurmit Singh, from whose possession the mobile phone was first recovered, is also being questioned.

The two mobile phones were issued against the names of Sanjiv and a soldier, Naresh Kumar, posted in the valley.

The investigating agency has called for the records of the two mobile phones.

Jail superintendent Gurdip Singh has been removed - it was also during his charge of the jail that more than 70terrorists attempted to escape in June 1999 by digging a tunnel. The bid was foiled by paramilitary guards and a top Harkat-ul-Ansarterrorist Sajjad Afghani killed.